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Period: 476 to Dec 31, 1492
Middle Ages
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May 4, 627
Longbow
The longbow was one of the most powerful long range weapons. A skilled archer could loose 10-12 arrows per minute. Like the crossbow, the longbow's height (6-7) and draw power could kill a knight in plate armor from over 250 yards. The wood of the long bow was very resilient to the snap of the bowstring, covered with a resin/wax cover. Used in large numbers, these were more often used to shoot high and with a trajectory. With many people shooting, hundereds of arrows could shower on a army. -
Jul 6, 1022
Lance
The lance was almost always used as a knight weapon, because it was made powerful from the speed and power of a charging battlehorse. The lance was technically a huge spear, about 12 feet long, Although it was used for jousting, it was adapted to open warfare, or infantry vs. cavalry. It is very effective when plowing through foot soldiers, and required very little training to do the basic jobs. -
Oct 23, 1093
The Crossbow
The crossbow is a high-tech military weapon. It could be used in most combat situations, but was best suited for mid range combat, since most kinds took some time to reload a bolt. The time was well worth waiting, because most crossbows were powerful enough to kill a knight with full steel armor. The time to reload usually meant the shooter had to stay hidden or out of the action, or be accompanied by a spearman to stay protected. Crossbows could be made out of wood, steel, or a combonation. -
Jun 10, 1127
The Greatsword
The Greatsword, a weapon used by a most knights, was created for someone on a mount. A greatsword could be up to 6 feet long, and the blade could be 4 inches wide. It was heavy, around 5 pounds: but this weight and the momentum of a horse could make a blow devestating. This was a 2 handed weapon, and made from steel, with a wooden (or even steel) handle covered in leather for a grip. -
Jun 8, 1129
Mace
The mace was a devestating close range melee weapon. It was famous because it was cheap to make and powerful. The mace head was made out of metal or iron, and the shaft was a strong wood. It was so powerful that a single blow from a trained soldier could crush a knight's bone and break his armor. The end of the mace could be attached to a short shaft (1 ft) or a longer handle good for horseback (4+ ft) -
Battle Axe
The battle axe had many designs. There were short, one handed axes and large, double handed axes that were made for heavy force. Shorter ones could be hurled to take out slightly further enemies, and huge battle axes would be used to "sweep": a technique that was very efficent in keeping large amounts of enemies at bay in close combat. A double edged axe was heavier, but had the advantage of forhand/backhand strokes.
